Mechanical clutch foixow-up device



Aug. 4, 1953 H. F. vlcKERs Re 23,692

MECHANICAL CLUTCH FOLLOW-UP DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l INyNT OR y Ic' efs ATTORNEY "i x PB l '#'aff BY Aug. 4, 1953 H. F. vlcKERs MECHANICAL CLUTCH FoLLow-UP DEvICE original Filed Aug. 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M ORNEY R O m E V W.

Aug. 4, 1953 H. F. vlcKERs MECHANICAL CLUTCH EoLLow-UP DEVICE original Filed Aug. 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illlllllllillllh A xu ll/ Reissues] Aug. 4, 1953 MECHANICAL CLUTCH FOLLOW-UP DEVICE Harry F. Vickers, Detroit, Mich.. assignor to Vickers Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corpo ration of Michigan Original No.

Serial No.

2,311,010, dated February 16, 1943. 288,495, August 5, 1939. Application for reissue April 28, 1953, Serial No. 351,769

(Cl. i4-388) 9 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets 1 appears reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the This invention relates to a mechanical clutch follow-up device and has particularly to do with a control in which the rotation of a powered output shaft is proportional in speed and direction to the rotation applied at a manual control.

An object of the invention is to provide a rugged follow-up device which is so constructed that there is little opportunity for failure of parts. A further object of the invention has to do with a connection between the manual input -shaft and the power control unit so arranged that hydraulic or electric power may be used in the control. 4

Other objects and features of the invention having to do with details of construction and operation, will be brought out in the following description and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view of the device in which the entire control is mechanical.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion ofV Fig. 1.

Figs. 3,- 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on lines 33, 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified type of control utilizing the fundamental principles of the invention in connection with a hydraulic signal device. y

Fig. 7 is a mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 6 utilizing an electrical signal.

Referring to Fig. l, a motor i drives a shaft Il on which is mounted a ilywheel i2. An overload clutch i3 connects the shaft of the motor to a driving shaft Il on which is mounted a power gear. I5. A similar gear I6 is connected to the shaft il through beveled gears i1 so that gears I! and II rotate at equal speeds in opposite direction. A spring i3a urges splined clutch member I3b in engagement with member |30 so that a definite loading may be borne by clutch i3. A power output shaft is shown at IB arranged to control the movement of a mass I9 and a manual control shaft 2i| is arranged to be operated by hand-wheels 2i. The power output shaft I3 is axially connected with a tubular member 22 which slidably receives a cylindrical member 23. The shaft 2t is splined to the member 23 so that there may be a relative sliding movement between 2l and 23 but no relative rotation. Relative rotation between the shaft 2li and the tubular member 22 is limited by a yieldable connection shown in section in Fig. 5. 'I'his connection consists of a transverse tapered bar 2l keyed to shaft 20 and receved in a transverse slot 25 in an enlarged portion 26 of the tubular member 22. Op-

positely positioned pairs of spring pressed plungers 21, in the transverse portion `2t in the original patent but forms no part of this additions made by reissue.

have rounded ends bearing upon the sides of the slot 25.

The power from oppositely rotating gears I5 and Il is to be furnished to shaft iB through clutch devices shown at 2l and 29. These clutch devices consist of outer ring gears 30 and 3i, each of which are connected to friction discs 32, and inner clutch collars 33 and 3l, lcach of which are connected to friction discs 35. Collars 36 and 31, respectively, are used to engage the friction disc to cause engagement of the clutches. Inner clutch collars 33 and 34 are connected operatively with the tube 22 by freewheeling mechanisms 33a and 36a. shown in section in Fig. 3. l

Rigidly mounted transversely through member 23 is a pin 33 which is provided at each end with rollers 33. This pin passes through helical slots t0 (Fig. 2) which are formed in the tubular member 22. The rollers 33 are adapted to bear against the inner surfaces of clutch engaging members 3l and 3l.A Springs Il urge these two clutch engaging members toward each other and to a non-engagement position. Sleeves I2 serve as bearing members for inner collars 33 and 34` and the clutch engagement rings or members 36 and 31.

Referring'to the operation of the device, assuming that motor ill is operating in the direction shown by the arrows. the gears I5 and i6 will be rotating at equal speeds in opposite directions and as long as the manual input shaft 2li is stationary, the output shaft I8 will be stationary. Movement of the hand shaft 20 in the direction of the arrow will take up the yieldable connection between the shaft 2li and the tubular member 22 and cause a relative rotation therebetween. 'I'his relative rotation will shift the pin 3B in the helical slots 40 and cause an axial movement of the pin and the member 23 with respectv to the tubular member 22. In other words, the helical slots lil act in the manner of a screw. The movement of the pin 38 will, in this case, be toward the clutch engagement member 36 so that clutch 28 Awill be engaged. Ring gears 3|! and 3i are, of course, operating constantly because of engagement with the ring gears I5 and I6. Upon engagement of clutch 2B, the rotation of ring gear 30 will be transferred to the inner clutch member 33 and this rotation will be transmitted in turn through the free-wheeling device 33a, shown in Fig. 3, to the tubular member 22. This will cause arotation of the output shaft I8 and the member I9 in the` direction shown by the arrow. This rotation of shaft Il will cause thev tubular member 22 to move toward its original stationary postion with respect to the shaft A2l and consequently there will be a tendency for the pin Il to shift back toward its central neutral position, thus releasing the clutch 28. Consequently, if a continued movement of the output shaft Il is desired. it is necessary that there be a continued movement of the manual input shaft 2li.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6. many of the elements are the same as described in connection with Fig. l. shaft II and a flywheel I2 and clutch Il connects the empowering gears l and IB which drive, respectively, the clutch ring gears lll and Il. Clutches 28a and 2Ia are slightly modified from those previously described in that the inner clutch members Ila and 34a are keyed directly to the output shaft ila. The clutches are engaged by the engagement collars 36 and 31 which are actuated by a sleeve member 45 slidably mounted on the shaft ila.

The input shaft in this embodiment is connected through the yieldable connection, previously described and shown in section in Fig. 5. to a gear collar 48 which is mounted in a suitable bearing 4l and which engages a gear 48 on the end of shaft IIa.. One end of the input shaft 20 is telescoped within a member 49 which is provided with helical slots 40a previously described inconnection with sleeve 22. A pin 5U is mounted in the shaft 20' and extends into the helical slots so that relative rotation between the member 2|) and the member 49 will cause a relative axial shifting between the two members.

' The member 49 is formed with an extension 5I which leads to a valve housing 52. At the end of the extension 5I is a recess I3 in which is slidably mounted a valve 54. This valve `54 is composed of a cylindricalmember having spaced restricted portions 5B and BB. Also mounted in the housing 52 is a piston 51 having a rod 58 extending therethrough. One end of the rod is controlled by a spring 59 which centers the piston Il in a cylinder 80 by reason of the action of suitable collars and pins on the rod 5l. The other end of the rod is connected to a lever 6| which is pivoted at 62 and connected at its other end with clutch engaging sleeve 45. 'Passageways N and 84 lead from the valve opening 53 to the respective ends of cylinder 60. A pressure passageway 65 leads from a pump to the valve recess and passageways 66 lead to the tank.

With the motor I l in operation, when the hand-wheel 2| is stationary, the valve -54 and the piston 51 will be centered so that pressure from conduit 6l may pass the restrictions in the valve to the tank ports 6I. Movement of the hand shaft 2li, permitted by the yieldable connection between the shaft and the gear collar 48, will cause a shifting of valve 54 because of the screw action of the pin Il in the helical slots 40a. A shifting of the valve 54 to the right, for example, will open the pressure port 6l to the cylinder port B4 and the cylinder port 63 will be connected to tank port il. Pressure will thus be exerted on the left hand side of the piston 5l so that clutch engagement collar 4I will be shifted to the left, by the action of the lever 6|. to engage the clutch 20a. The engagement of this clutch will transmit rotary motion from the rotating ring gear Il tothe inner clutch member 34a and to the output shaft Ila. However, since the output shaft I la is connected to the gear 48a, there will be a movement of the gear collar 48. This gear collar 4I is slidably splined to the member 4l 'I'he motor III drives the so that this member will rotate, thus tending to mnvel the pin l0 in the helical slots back to its original neutral position. Consequently, in order to maintain a constant movement of the output shaft IIa, it is essential that the manualinput shaft 2li be continuously rotated.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 'l is similar to that described in connection with Fig. 6 except that an electrical circuit is used to supplant the hydraulic circuit of Fig. 6. In Fig. 7 a shaft 1l is connected to the lever Si and this shaft has its ends mounted, respectively, in solenoids 1i and l2. An operating switch for the solenoids is shown generally at 13. 'I'his switch has a control element 14 which is adapted to be shifted by linkage 1l and a lever 18, the latter being controlled by the movement of a member 4.a. The movement of the member 40a is controlled as was the member 48 by movement ofthe input shaft 2l and the pin IU. From the electrical circuitA shown in the drawings, it will be clear that when the input shaft 2l is rotated, the switch 13 will be closedin one direction or the other and solenoid 'Il or 12 will be energized. This will cause a shifting of the member 10 and engagement ofone of the clutches by the movement of sleeve 45. The response movement is transmitted as previously described, through gear 4I and the gear collar 48.

In each of the abovek embodiments of the invention, the speed of the operating shaft may be definitely controlled bythe speed of the input shaft since any tendency forthe output shaft to gain upon the input shaft will be immediately counteracted by the response movement of sleeve 22 in Fig. l and gears 48 in Figs. 6 and 7.

In each of theabove mechanisms it is also possible to effect direct manual control of-the power shafts in case of power failure at Ill. For example, in Fig. l. the free wheeling clutches a and 34a permit driving of tube 22 by shaft 2l if the engagement of the clutches 28 or 2| is ineffective because of power failure. In Fig. 6, in case oi' power failure at lil, the hydraulic control pressure may be shut of! to permit direct manual control and similarly, in Fig. 7, the electric power may be cut out.

Each of the above mechanisms is arranged to check kick-back or kick-ahead forces which may act on the driven member I9. forces are transmitted to the clutch II and flywheel i2. The clutch limits the force which may be transmitted to the motor and the flywheel acts similarly to protect the motor against these forces.

[1. In a follow-up device, an operating member, a constantly operated power means, oppositely rotating means driven by said'power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating member, and means to cause engage# ment of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a control shaft, a second shaft operably connected to said operating member, means connecting said control shaft and said second shaft whereby a relative rotation will result in an axial movement between said shafts,

clutch engaging means, and means operably con' necting said second shaft with said clutch engaging means whereby vrelative slidable movement between said shafts will result in engagement of one of said clutches.)

' [2. In a follow-.up device, an operating member, a constantly operad power means, op-

These kicking B positely rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one orv the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating member, and means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a control shaft, a second shaft operably connected to said operating member, means connecting said control shaft and said second shaft whereby a relative rotation will result in an axial movement between said shafts, clutch engaging means, and means operably connecting said second shaft with said clutch engaging means whereby relative slidable movement between said shafts will result in engagement of one of said clutches. depending on the direction of movement of said control shaft, and means connecting said operating member with shafts whereby movement of said operating member will tend to nullify the effect of the movement of said control shaft] 3. In a follow-up device, an operating shaft, a` constantly operated power means, oppositely rotating means driven by said power means. clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating shaft, and means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a hand operated shaft, a second shaft connected to said operating shaft and telescoping with said hand operated shaft, means connecting said hand operated shaft and said telescoping shaft whereby a relative rotation will result in an axial movement between said shafts, clutch engaging means and means operably connecting said hand operated and said telescoping shafts with said clutch engaging means whereby axial movement between said shafts will result in engagement of one of said clutches.

4. In a follow-up device, an operating shaft, a constantly operated power means. oppositely rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating shaft, each of said clutch means comprising an outer ring gear driven by one of said rotating means, an inner clutch collar operative- 1y connected to said operating shaft by freewheeiing connecting means, and friction discs between said ring gears and said inner clutch collar, and means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a hand operated shaft, a second shaft connected to said operating shaft and telescoping with said hand operated shaft, means connecting said hand, operated shaft and said telescoping shaft whereby a. relative rotation will result in an axial movement between said shafts, clutch engaging means and means operabiy connecting said hand opclutch engaging means whereby axial movement between said shafts will result in engagement of one of said clutches, said free-wheeling connecting means being so arranged that said operating shaft may bey moved directly by movement of said hand operated shaft in the event of a failure of said power means.

5. In a. follow-up device, an operating shaft. a constantly operated power means, oppositely rotating means driven by said power means. clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating shaft, means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means, a fluid operated piston connected to said clutch engaging means, a cylinder surrounding said piston,

l i 8 a source of fluid rectingfiuidpressuretooneendortheotherof saidpistonmeanstoengage'oneor'theothcr of said clutches, manually operable means, comprising a rotatable shaft, and means connecting said shaft with said valve whereby rotation of said shaft will cause a shifting of said valve. to connect pressure to one' end or the other of said piston, and means connected to said operating shaft for counteracting the effect of movement of said manually operated shaft.

6. In a follow-up device, an operating shaft. a constantly operated power means, oppositely rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating shaft, means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means, electrical- 1y operated means to cause movement of said clutch engaging means from a neutral position to one of its operative positions, switch means 'a constantly operated power means. oppositely to cause actuation of said electrically operated means, a rotatable hand input shaft and means connecting said input shaft to said switch means whereby rotation of said input shaft will cause engagement of one or the other of said clutches. and means operated by said operating shaft to nullify the effect of said input shaft whereby a continued movement of said hand input shaft' is required to effect continued movement of said operating shaft.

7. In a follow-up device, an operating member, a constantly operated power means. oppositely rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating member, and means to cause en-f' gagement of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a control shaft mounted to move substantially through the same rotational travel as the operating member, a second shaft operably connected to said operating member,

means connecting said control shaft and said second shaft whereby a relative rotation will result in an axial movement between said shafts,

=clutch engaging means, and means operably conlnecting said second shaft with said clutch enlgaging means whereby relative slidable movement 'between said shafts will result in engagement of 'one of said clutches.

8. In a follow-up device, an operating member,

rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating member, and means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means com sin a control sha t, secon' opererated and said telescoping shafts with said pn g f a d han means whereby relative slidable movement be' tween said shafts will result in engagement of one of said clutches, and free wheeling mechanism intermediate the operating member and the power means effective to enable manual operation of the operating member when the power 'means is stationary.

9. In a follow-up device, an operating member, a constantly operated ,power means. oppositely rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of mi, valvev meanl'for dlsaid oppostely rotating means to said operating member. and means to cause engagement of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a control shaft, a secondfshaft Operably connected to said operating member, means connecting said control shaft and said second shaft.` the con, nections of said second shaft to the operating member and to the control shaft both `beingarranged for limited relative sliding motion, one along 'a helical path and the other along-an arial path whereby axial movement between said-shafts, clutch engaging means, and means operably connecting said second shaft with said` clutch enga-ging means whereby relative slidable movement 'between said shafts will result in engagement of one of said clutches.

10. In a follow-up device, an operating shaft, a constantly operated power means, oppositely rotating means driven by said power means, clutch means arranged to connect one or the other of said oppositely rotating means to said operating shaft, and means to cause engagement 'of one or the other of said clutch means comprising a hand qperated shaft mounted for unlimited 'rotation coarially with the operating shaft, a

second shaft connected to said operattng shaft and telesoping with said hand operated shaft. means connecting said hand operated shaft and said telescoping shaft the connections of the telescoping shaft with the operating shaft and with the control shaft being relatively slidable, one

axially and the other, helically whereby a relative rotation between the control and operating shafts will result in an axial movement of the telescoping shaft, said telescoping shaft having means for engaging one or the other of said clutch means in response to arial motion in either direction.

11. In a follow-up device, an operating shaft, a constantly operated power means, oppositely a relative rotation will result in an o rotatingvmmeans Vdriven by said power means, clutch .means arranged to connect one or the Y other ofsaid Oppositely rotating means to said i operating shaft. and means of one or the otherz of said to cause engagement clutch means comprising a hand operated shaft, a second shaft connected--to said operating shaft and telescoping with said hand operatedshafut, means connectgginameansnnd means operably connecting said operated and ffjwith said clutch engaging means .Y .gagementof one said telescoptng shafts -wherebyarial will result in enof said clutches,v one ofV said mooementbeiween said shafts l shafts being radially slotted and at least one radi- Epec. naman; cnsgg=1fiiiije'fnxei,r 'ih1s Amman Number;v Date 693,565 Nov. 7, 1905 5.1.1411,1'16 :July 27, 1915 1.355.152 LLaim 1, oct. 12, 1929 1,656,962 nuke- Jan. 1o, 192s v1,939,394. Gamm nec. 29, 1931 2,150,019 Baule- Mar. '1, 1939 9,177,199 Lansing occ. 24. 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country' Date 377,938 France Sept. 19, 1907 

